Accustomed to treacherous conditions, equipment failure and competition from other salvage operations—as well as flat-out failure—the Cortes’ crew believe themselves due for a big hit, and by all signs, Lonely Orphan appears to be it. Despite dissonance among its staff due to recent failures, they’re keyed in for a score. For whatever reason, the planet has disengaged from its home system and been set adrift in space—but not without a signal beacon indicating a king’s ransom in salvage. (12/13)